Today in History Friday, Sept. 21

■ On Sept. 21, 1912, magician Harry Houdini first publicly performed his so-called “Chinese Water Torture Cell” trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin, escaping after being immersed upside-down in a vertical water tank, his ankles secured in a set of stocks which made up the tank lid, which was locked into place.

■ In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.

■ In 1893, one of America’s first horseless carriages was taken for a short test drive in Springfield, Mass., by Frank Duryea, who had designed the vehicle with his brother, Charles.

■ In 1897, the New York Sun ran its famous editorial, written anonymously by Francis P. Church, which declared, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

■ In 1912, legendary cartoon animator Chuck Jones was born in Spokane, Wash.

■ In 1937, “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published by George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. of London.

■ In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives.

■ In 1948, Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of “The Texaco Star Theater” on NBC-TV.

■ In 1962, “The Jack Paar Program,” a weekly, prime-time show that followed Paar’s stint on “The Tonight Show,” began a three-year run.

■ In 1970, “NFL Monday Night Football” made its debut on ABC-TV as the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets, 31-21.

■ In 1982, Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon’s assassinated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, was himself elected president. National Football League players began a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout ever.